Revelation 6:7 kjv
And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
Revelation 6:7 nkjv
When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come and see."
Revelation 6:7 niv
When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!"
Revelation 6:7 esv
When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!"
Revelation 6:7 nlt
When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living being say, "Come!"
Revelation 6 verses
(h2) Meaning
Revelation 6:7 describes a pivotal moment in John's vision where the Lamb, Jesus Christ, opens the fourth of seven seals. As this seal is broken, the fourth of the four living creatures around God's throne utters a commanding invitation, "Come!" This event initiates the appearance of the fourth horseman, representing death and Hades, further unveiling God's appointed judgments upon the earth as a prelude to His ultimate Kingdom.
(h2) Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 5:1 | Then I saw in the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne a scroll... sealed with seven seals. | Introduction of the sealed scroll, holding divine decrees. |
| Rev 5:5 | ...the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that He can open the scroll and its seven seals. | Identifies the Lamb (Jesus) as the only one worthy to open the seals. |
| Rev 6:1 | When the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, I heard one of the four living creatures say, as with a voice of thunder, “Come!” | Establishes the pattern of seals opened and living creatures' summons. |
| Rev 6:3 | When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” | Continuation of the pattern for the second seal. |
| Rev 6:5 | When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” | Continuation of the pattern for the third seal. |
| Rev 6:8 | I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. | Immediate consequence of the fourth seal: the pale horse and its effects. |
| Rev 4:6 | ...around the throne, were four living creatures... | Introduces the four living creatures in the throne room. |
| Rev 4:7 | The first living creature like a lion, the second like an ox, the third with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. | Describes the distinct appearance of each living creature. |
| Rev 4:8 | And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around... day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty...” | Shows the creatures' continuous worship and connection to divine authority. |
| Eze 1:5-10 | And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures... each had four faces: the face of a man in front, the face of a lion... ox... eagle behind. | OT prophetic imagery for the living creatures, symbolizing attributes of God. |
| Eze 10:14 | And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. | Further description of cherubim with four faces, linking to these creatures. |
| Isa 6:2-3 | Above him stood the seraphim... And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” | Depicts celestial beings praising God in the heavenly court, similar to Rev 4. |
| Zec 6:1-8 | Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out... and these are going out to the four winds of heaven, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. | OT prophecy involving four chariots (horses) executing divine judgment. |
| Jer 14:12 | For by sword and by famine will I consume them. | OT reference to God's judgments through sword and famine. |
| Eze 14:21 | For thus says the Lord God: How much more when I send upon Jerusalem My four dreadful acts of judgment—sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence—to cut off from it man and beast! | Direct OT parallel to the four judgments unleashed by the pale horseman. |
| Mt 24:6-7 | And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars... Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. | Jesus' prophecies of increasing global distress as birth pains before His return. |
| Mk 13:7-8 | And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom... | Similar to Matthew, indicators of global unrest. |
| Lk 21:9-11 | When you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified... For nation will rise against nation... There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. | Luke's account echoing the signs of the end times, including plagues. |
| Dan 7:9-10 | As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took His seat... A thousand thousands served Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him... the court sat in judgment... | Depiction of heavenly judgment in a heavenly court, mirroring Revelation. |
| Ps 9:15-16 | The nations have sunk in the pit that they made... The Lord has made himself known; He has executed judgment... | God's justice in dealing with nations. |
| Ps 76:10 | Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remainder of wrath you will restrain. | God's sovereignty over all events, including human actions and judgments. |
| Is 45:7 | I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things. | God's sovereign control over both good and evil events. |
(h2) Context
Revelation 6:7 is nestled within a dramatic sequence detailing the Lamb's opening of a scroll sealed with seven seals (Rev 5:1). This scroll contains God's judgments and redemptive plan for the earth. The opening of each of the first four seals unleashes a specific horseman (white, red, black, pale) and a corresponding global tribulation.
The immediate context is the continuous unfolding of divine judgment. The first three seals have already introduced conquest, warfare, and economic scarcity. The fourth seal amplifies this by introducing widespread death through multiple calamities, setting the stage for even more severe judgments to follow (the fifth, sixth, and seventh seals, which lead to the trumpet judgments).
Historically and culturally, John's audience was living under the oppressive Roman Empire. This vision would have offered reassurance that God was sovereign over even the most formidable earthly powers and that all events, including seemingly chaotic ones, were part of His divine, predetermined plan for justice and ultimately, the establishment of His Kingdom. The systematic opening of the seals by the Lamb underscored Jesus' supreme authority over all creation and history, directly contrasting with the claims of Roman emperors.
(h2) Word analysis
- When He opened (ὅτε ἤνοιξεν, hote ēnoixen):
- ὅτε (hote): "When." Denotes the precise moment or time, emphasizing the divine timing and ordered progression of events.
- ἤνοιξεν (ēnoixen): Aorist active indicative of ἀνοίγω (anoigō), "to open." Points to a decisive, completed action. "He" refers to the Lamb (Jesus Christ), reiterating His exclusive authority as established in Revelation 5.
- the fourth seal (τὴν σφραγῖδα τὴν τετάρτην, tēn sphragida tēn tetartēn):
- τὴν σφραγῖδα (tēn sphragida): "The seal." A 'seal' in antiquity secured important documents, ensuring privacy and authenticity. Its breaking signifies the initiation or revelation of what was hidden or secured.
- τὴν τετάρτην (tēn tetartēn): "The fourth." Places this event sequentially, indicating a building intensity and systematic nature of God's judgments.
- I heard (ἤκουσα, ēkousa):
- Aorist active indicative of ἀκούω (akouō), "to hear." Emphasizes John's direct perception of the heavenly revelation, affirming its objective reality and divine source.
- the voice (φωνὴν, phōnen):
- φωνὴν (phōnen): "Voice." Refers to an articulate sound or speech, denoting communication from the heavenly realm, carrying divine authority.
- of the fourth living creature (τοῦ τετάρτου ζῴου, tou tetartou zōou):
- τοῦ τετάρτου (tou tetartou): "Of the fourth." Corresponds to the sequential nature of the seals and horses.
- ζῴου (zōou): Genitive singular of ζῷον (zōon), "living creature." These are symbolic beings associated with God's throne (Rev 4:6-8), often interpreted as representing creation, cherubim, or seraphim. They serve as divine heralds and witnesses to God's holiness and judgments. The fourth creature is described as having the face of an eagle in Rev 4:7.
- saying (λέγοντος, legontos):
- Present active participle of λέγω (legō), "to say, to speak." Describes the creature's action as directly leading to the following command.
- 'Come!' (ἔρχου, erchou):
- ἔρχου (erchou): Second person singular present imperative of ἔρχομαι (erchomai), "to come." This is a command or an urgent summons. In this context, it is directed to the fourth horseman/judgment, commanding it to appear and execute its destructive purpose. It may also function as an invitation to John to observe what unfolds. This "Come!" is not for human repentance, but for divine action to proceed.
(h2) Commentary
Revelation 6:7 concisely unveils the next step in God's unfolding program of judgment upon the earth. The precise, divinely orchestrated sequence is underscored by the designation "fourth seal" and "fourth living creature." It is the Lamb's authority alone that enables the scroll's secrets to be revealed, affirming His rightful sovereignty over history and destiny.
The voice of the fourth living creature, which traditionally has the face of an eagle, serves as a direct summons. These creatures, dwelling in God's immediate presence, are not mere bystanders but active participants in the heavenly council, acting as heralds and agents of divine will. Their "Come!" is not a passive invitation but an authoritative command, triggering the immediate manifestation of the judgments tied to that seal. This command is echoed for each of the first four seals, establishing a pattern where the breaking of the seal directly corresponds to the command for a new form of judgment to begin its work.
This verse therefore emphasizes the absolute control God maintains over global events, even amidst great distress. The opening of this seal and the subsequent unleashing of the pale horse of Death and Hades in the following verse are not random acts but precise judgments initiated by the Lamb and witnessed and announced by the very fabric of creation itself, through the living creatures. It communicates that every disaster and affliction during this period is ultimately part of God's holy, sovereign, and redemptive plan, designed to call humanity to repentance or bring about final justice.
(h2) Bonus section
The repeated "Come!" from the living creatures (Rev 6:1, 3, 5, 7) creates a powerful, ritualistic sense of a divinely ordered unfolding of events. It is a strong affirmation of divine intentionality; these judgments are not chaotic or arbitrary but are initiated and overseen by God. The sequence of judgments, starting with conquest, leading to war, then famine, and finally widespread death and pestilence, suggests an escalating intensity of earthly suffering, each judgment compounding the effects of the previous one. This progression paints a picture of societal decay and distress increasing as God's warnings become more severe. The eagle-faced living creature is often associated with foresight and swiftness, signifying the sweeping and inescapable nature of the death and devastation that follow.